Crombies of Edinburgh has won the Diamond Award in the Scottish Craft Butchers Savoury Pastry Products Awards 2018.

Owner Sandy Crombie said he was “absolutely elated” with the accolade.

“When I first joined my father’s butchers firm in 1956, the Scotch pie was frowned upon in Edinburgh - it was seen as too downmarket for the Edinburgh customers of the day,” said Crombie. “In the west, however, the Scotch pie was proving a real favourite, so I and a colleague visited fellow butchers Chapmans of Wishaw and asked for their recipe.

“Crombies Scotch pies are still fairly true to that original recipe,” he said. “We are one of very few butchers in Scotland who still make our Scotch pies with only lamb, paying lip service to the old mutton pie, which was a forerunner of the Scotch pie.”

The Broughton Street-based butcher also secured three Silver Awards for its sausage rolls, sausage hotpot pies and handheld steak pies.

A total of 54 Scotch Pies were entered into the product evaluation held at Dewars Centre Perth on 1 November. After mystery shopping the main contenders and the second stage judging at Heaven Scent in Milnathort, the judges awarded: 1 Diamond, 15 Gold and 29 Silver.

Douglas Scott, chief executive of Scottish Craft Butchers, said this year’s Savoury Pastry evaluation had seen a record number of entrants, reflecting the growing importance of independent assessment of butchers’ pastry products.

“The evaluation drives up standards year after year,” he said, “all to the benefit of the customer.

“Identifying the very best is of immense importance since these are the products that pastry enthusiasts will travel big distances to source.

“Diamond Awards are not given out lightly - they are the ultimate achievement for a butcher,” added Douglas. “Every one of the butchers recognised can be rightly proud of their products and their customers can purchase with high expectations of great taste. These awards show customers just what a high standard their local butcher sets.”